My Life Lately

Well, Our family has had our fair share of trials this past few weeks. Today is the first day in a week that I am actually up and out of bed! And oh, how hard has it been. But I know that our family has been blessed and that I have had so many prayers offered for me. I have been able to feel all the love and support of my family and friends.
We are very lucky. The outcome could have been a LOT worse. The news the doctors could have given us, and initially did, was devastating, but my friends were there to love and support me. And thanks to a Priesthood blessing and the spirit telling me not to trust the doctor, we found a new specialist who looked over all my cat scans and MRI and has cleared up so many unanswered questions. We know that the love and prayers of family and friends was what got us through this past week. I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for those who didn't let me say no to meals, who took my kids, who called to just check up on me, and those who fasted and prayed for me. Thank you to all of you.
To everyone else who has no idea what I am talking about, I will clarify.
About 6 months ago I started having really bad headaches. My Primary Care Physician said I was having stress headaches, and gave me medication to take when I got them. But they were daily and the drugs knocked me out, so I couldn't take them and leave the four little ones unattended while Jason worked, so I just dealt with them and went on with my life. Then I started getting dizzy and almost falling down, having to catch myself a few times. It was a few times, but got more and more frequent. But I let it go, because I had other things to do. My life had to go on. Then I went for my annual eye exam (thank goodness for great insurance!) and my wonderful eye doc saw that I had bilateral pappiledema. He sent me over to my doctor, who sent me stat to a Neurologist. I went the next week for a CT and it came back normal. GREAT NEWS! Just go to the hospital, they were waiting for me, so they could do a spinal tap! NOT! 10 hours later and another CT and now I had a brain tumor. So I was sent home and had to wait a day and a half for a MRI. The next morning, the doctor says, well, I can't tell if there is anything wrong, so just go sit back at the hospital. I told him no, and got myself a new doctor. So I went last Wednesday to Loma Linda to a Neurosurgeon who is supposed to be the BEST! He went over all my tests, since I was smart enough to get copies of everything, and he decided that it looked like I just had too much pressure in my head. He did a spinal tap to test my pressure. BINGO. My pressure was 33! (A normal pressure is between 12 and 15) so I had 32 cc's of spinal fluid drained to take some pressure from my head. (I was told it is called pseudotumor Cerebri, it presents as a brain tumor, when really it is just pressure with no reason why. They can't tell me why it is happening)) But, it gave my head a worse headache....a different type of headache. And I had to lay flat on my back from Wednesday until Sunday. So Easter was spend in bed. I ate a baked potato on the couch that night. I Haven't had much of an appetite, thanks to the medication I am on. (Hey, I've lost 14 lbs, so I can't complain! Another few months on this medication and I should be at my college weight!) Today I was able to take my kids to school, accompanied by my personal chapperones, Jay and Jinelle. I still am quite dizzy and my head hurts a lot so I can't be alone . I sucks, but it is much better than a brain tumor. I may have to have surgery to help solve the pressure problem. There is two possible surgeries, but I have to go see another specialist first before I decide. Until then, it is spinal taps every few weeks and a lot of time in bed. My next spinal will be on April 2nd, just 2 weeks after the first!
So, Thats my life lately. Thanks for the continued prayers and help from all! I love you all and don't know what I'd do without all my friends and family!

TAGGED! 5 Random or Weird Facts About Me

I've been tagged thanks to my dear friend Liz. Here's the rules: Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on your blog. Post 5 random or weird facts about yourself on your blog. Tag 4 people and link to them. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

1. I love green M&M's. I will eat all the other colors first and save them for last. And if my kids have a bag of M&M's and offer me some, I make sure I get green ones! They taste so much better. And red is my least favorite, so I eat those first. (I actually have a color order for all the M&M's- Red, Brown, Yellow, Orange, Blue, and then finally GREEN!)

2. I hate when somebody squeezes the toothpaste in the middle. I always squeeze from the bottom.

3. I collect Precious Moments Figurines. I have tons and can tell you exactly when and why I got a certain figurine and most of the time, who gave it to me. I only buy those with meaning to me.

4. I get up and make my kids breakfast almost every morning, and not just cereal. I love making pancakes, waffles, French toast, eggs, Cinnamon toast, etc. And if one kid wants one thing and another wants a different thing, I will make it for them....but only for breakfast. Dinner is a different story. Whatever I make, is what they eat, or at least try.

5. I hate when things aren't planned out. I love planning in advance and not waiting for the last minute. (Not that spontaneous things are fun every now and then, but the big things). If I could, I would plan for next Christmas on New Years.

Now, I tag 4 friends: Amy, Christina, Brenda, & Stephan